207   Presbyterian  Theolo- 
C43c   gical  Seminary  of 
1872   the  Northwest. 

Constitution  and  Charter  of 
the  Presbyterian  .  .  . 

(1872) 


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GICAL  SEMINARY 


IN   THE 


NORTH-WEST 


CHICAGO: 

Mr\<..\,    I'RINI  F.R  AM>  STATIONER,   285  AND  287  l-.   MA1>I^"^ 

1872. 


COn^STITTJTTOIsr 


AMD 


OH:^A^I^TE:E^ 


OF  THE 


Pfi[SB!T[eii  THEOLOEICS 


!    QCRiliy/ifiV    • 


IL  ul!V!!Ii 


IN    THE 


NORTH-WEST 


CHICAGO: 

F.   MUNSON,   PRIN;  iR  AND  STATIONER,  285  ANL»  2S7    E.  MA.DISON    ST, 

1872. 


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ORIGINAL  CONSTITUTION. 


Whereas^  The  Board  of  Directors  of  "  The  Presbyterian 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  North-West,"  did,  in  accordance 
with  the  vote  of  the  Synods  heretofore  having  the  control 
thereof,  present  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States,  at  its  sessions  held  at  Indian- 
apolis, in  the  State  of  Indiana,  in  May^,  1859,  a  Resolution 
previously  adopted  by  the  said  Board,  in  the  following 
words,  to  wit : 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  North-West  be,  and  is  hereby 
so  amended,  that  the  direction  of  the  said  Seminary — the 
right  to  determine  the  number  of  Directors  and  Professors 
and  to  appoint  the  same — and  all  the  powers  which  have 
heretofore  been  vested  in  the  Synods,  shall  be  and  hereby 
are  transferred  to  and  vested  in  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  provided  that 
this  direction  be  accepted  by  the  Assembly. 

And  whereas,  The  said  Board  of  Directors  did  at  the  same 
time  present  to  the  said  General  Assembly  an  overture, 
praying  that  the  said  General  Assembly  would  accept  the 
control  and  direction  of  the  said  Seminar)%  in  accordance 
with  the  terms  of  the  said  resolution  ; 


And  whereas^  The  said  General  Assembly  did,  at  its  said 
sessions,  resolve  to  accept^  and  did  accept  the  same ; 

And  whereas^  The  Constitution  heretofore  adopted  by 
the  said  Synods  for  the  organization  and  government  of  the 
said  Seminary  has,  in  consequence  of  the  said  resolution, 
and  of  the  said  transfer  to  the  General  Assembly,  become 
in  many  respects  inapplicable  in  its  terms  and  provisions  to 
the  present  and  prospective  condition  of  the  Seminary; 
therefore. 

Resolved^  That  the  following  be,  and  the  same  is,  hereby 
ordained  and  established  as  the  Constitution  of  the  said 
Seminary  : 

ARTICLE  I. 

OF    THE    NAME   AND    OBJECTS    OF    THE   SEMINARY. 

Section  i.  The  name  of  the  Institution  shall  be  "The 
Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  of  the  North-West.' 

Sec.  2.  The  objects  of  the  Seminary  shall  be,  to  instruct 
candidates  for  the  Gospel  ministry  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
Word  of  God,  contained  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  the  only  supreme  and  infallible  rule  of 
faith  and  life ;  and  of  the  doctrine,  order  and  institutes  of 
worship  taught  in  the  Scriptures,  and  summarily  exhibited 
in  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States,  to  cherish  in  them,  by  all  the  means  of  Divine  ap- 
pointment, the  life  of  true  godliness  ;  to  cultivate  in  them 
the  gifts  which  Christ,  the  Head  of  the  Church,  by  his 
Spirit,  confers  upon  those  whom  he  calls  to  the  ministry, 
and  to  impart  to  them,  so  far  as  may  be,  the  various  learning 
by  which  they  may  be  furnished  for  its  work,  to  the  end  that 
there  may  be  trained  up  a  succession  of  able,  faithful  and 
godly  ministers  of  the  Divine  Word,  as  the  chief  agency 
under  God,  ordain  the  Church  for  the  gathering  and  per- 
fecting of  the  saints  in  this  life  to  the  end  of  the  world. 


ARTICLE  11. 

OF    THE   GENERAL    SUPERVISION    AND    CONTROL    OF    THE 

SEMINARY. 

Sec.  I.  The  General  Assembly  shall  have  the  general 
supervision  and  control  of  the  said  Seminary,  and  of  all  its 
Directors,  Professors,  officers  and  agents,  and  shall  have 
power  to  direct  as  to  its  management  in  all  respects,  and  as 
to  the  disposition  of  its  funds  and  property  ;  to  determine 
the  number  of  its  Directors  and  Professors,  and  to  appoint 
the  same,  and  to  prescribe  their  term  of  office ;  to  designate 
the  branches  of  study  to  be  pursued,  and  the  titles  and 
departments  of  the  respective  Professors,  and  to  suspend  or 
remove  from  office  any  of  the  said  Professors  at  its  discretion; 
and  shall  decide  all  questions  and  controversies  arising  be- 
tween the  Board  of  Directors  and  Professors,  or  between  the 
respective  Professors ;  and  all  questions  referred  to  it  by  the 
Board  of  Directors  ;  and  shall  have  power  of  its  own  motion 
to  review  and  to  confirm,  reverse  or  modify  any  decision  of 
the  Board  of  Directors,  and  generally  have  all  other  powers 
necessary  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  for  which 
the  Seminary  is  established. 

ARTICLE  III. 

OF   THE    BOARD    OF    DIRECTORS. 

Section  i.  The  General  Assembly  shall  elect  a  Board  of 
Directors  for  the  said  Seminary,  to  consist  of  not  less  than 
thirty-two  persons,  and  composed,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  of 
an  even  number  of  Ministers  and  Ruling  Elders  in  regular 
standing  in  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  shall,  at  its 
regular  sessions  hereafter,  fill  all  vacancies  in  the  said 
Boaxd,  and  elect  new  Directors  in  the  place  of  those  whose 
term  of  office  is  about  to  expire. 

Sec.  2.  At  the  first  election  of  said  Directors,  one-fourth 
part  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  one  year ;  one-fourth 
for  two  years ;  one-fourth  for  three   years  ;  one-fourth  tor 


6 


four  years.  And  the  Directors  so  elected  shall  hold  their 
offices  respectively  until  the  end  of  t^e  next  regular  sessions 
of  the  (ieneral  Assembly,  and  untiNtheir  successors  shall  be 
duly  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  the  superin- 
tendence and  control  of  the  Seminary  and  its  funds — sub- 
ject, however,  to  the  supervision  of  the  General  Assembly, 
as  provided  in  Article  1 1. 

Sec.  4.  Every  Director,  before  taking  his  seat  as  a  mem- 
ber, shall  subscribe  the  following  engagements,  in  a  book 
kept  for  that  purpose,  viz. : 

"  I  do  solemnly  promise,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  of 
this  Board,  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  oftice  of  a  Di- 
rector of  the  Presbyterian  Seminary  of  the  North-West,  and 
will  support  its  Constitution  and  the  Constitution  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  so  long  as  I  remain  in  this  office." 

Sec.  5.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  once  in  every 
year  at  the  place  where  the  Seminary  is  located,  and  such 
annual  meeting  shall  be  on  the  Wednesday  immediately 
preceding  the  close  of  the  Seminary  year,  unless  the  Board 
shall  appoint  another  time  ;  and  the  Board  may  meet  at 
other  times  and  places  on  its  own  adjournment,  and  on 
extraordinary  occasions  by  the  call  of  the  President,  or  other 
officer  having  power  to  convene  it. 

Sec.  6.  Any  seven  Directors  being  met  at  the  time  and 
place  appointed,  shall  constitute  a  quot  um  for  the  transaction 
of  business.  Any  two  Directors  so  met,  may  adjourn  from 
time  to  time  until  a  quorum  shall  be  present. 

Sec.  7.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  choose  annually 
from  their  own  members  a  President,  Vice-President  and  a 
Secretary,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  from  the  time  of  their 
election  till  the  next  annual  meeting,  and  until  their  succes- 
sors shall  be  duly  appointed. 

Sec.  8.  The  President,  or  in  case  of  his  absence,  the  Vice- 
President,  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Board,  and 
perform  such  other  duties  as  naturally  belong  to  his  office, 


and  as  the  Board  shall  appoint.  He  may  convene,  and 
when  requested  by  any  seven  members,  it  shall  be  his  duty 
to  convene  the  Board  ;  and  of  the  time  and  place  of  such 
special  meeting,  and  the  business  for.  which  it  is  called,  he 
shall  send  a  \vritten  notice  by  mail  or  othenvise,  not  less 
than  twenty  days  before  the  time  af  such  meeting. 

Sec.  9.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  full  and  true  record  of 
the  transactions  of  the  Board,  and  shall  keep  all  books  of 
records  and  papers,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  the 
Board  shall  direct. 

Sec.  10.  In  the  absence  of  any  officer,  the  Board  may 
appoint  some  other  person  to  fill  his  place //^t;  tempore. 

Sec.  II.  The  Board  may  make  Rules  of  Order  and  By- 
Laws,  not  inconsistent  with  this  Constitution. 

Sec.  12.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power,  and  it 
shall  be  their  duty, 

1.  To  superintend,  either  by  itself  or  by  a  committee,  the 
annual  examinations  of  the  students,  and  to  appoint  such 
other  services  in  connection  therewith,  as  it  may  think 
proper. 

2.  To  provide  all  funds,  buildings,  libraries  and  other 
means  necessary  and  proper  for  the  use  of  the  Seminary  ;  to 
appoint  a  Board  of  Trustees  and  fill  all  vacancies  therein, 
and  to  instruct  and  direct  the  said  Board  in  respect  to  the 
investment,  custody,  management  and  disposal  of  all  funds 
and  property  of  the  Institution  ;  to  fix  the  .salaries  of  all 
Professors  and  other  officers  ;  and,  by  itself,  or  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  to  make  all  appropriations  of  moneys. 

3.  To  make  annually  to  the  General  Assembly,  in  writing, 
a  full  and  faithful  report  of  the  whole  state  of  the  Seminary 
and  of  the  transactions  of  the  Board,  and  to  recommend 
such  measures  as  shall  appear  to  be  proper  for  its  benefit. 

Sec.  13.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  its  first  meet- 
ing in  the  City  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday 
of  June,  1859,  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  Aftervs'ards,  it  shall 
meet  on  its  own  adjournment,  and  in  conformity  to  the 
provisions  of  this  article. 


8 

Sec.  14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Directors  to 
use  and  take  all  proper  measures  necessary  to  put  the  Semi- 
nary in  operation  at  the  earliest  date  practicable. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

OF   THE    PROFESSORS. 

Section  i.  ist. — No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  any 
Professorship  in  the  Seminary,  except  a  member  in  full 
communion  in  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  no  person 
shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Professor  of  Theology, 
except  a  regularly  ordained  minister  in  that  Church. 

2d — Every  Professor,  before  he  enters  upon  the  execution 
of  his  office,  shall  subscribe  the  following  engagement,  in  a 
book  kept  for  that  purpose,  namely  : 

"  In  the  presence  of  God  and  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  this  Seminary,  I  do  solemnly  profess  my  belief  that  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  contain  a  summary  and  true  exhibition  of  the  sys- 
tem of  doctrine,  order  and  worship  taught  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  the  only  supreme  and  infallible  rule  of  faith, 
and  my  approbation  of  the  Presbyterian  Form  of  Church 
Government,  as  being  agreeable  to  the  Scriptures  ;  and  do 
promise  that  I  will  not  teach,  directly  or  indirectly,  anything 
contrary  to,  or  inconsistent  with,  the  said  Confession  and 
Catechisms,  or  the  fundamental  principles  of  Presbyterian 
Church  Government,  and  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the 
office  of  a  Professor  in  the  Presbyterian  Theologioal  Semi- 
nary of  the  North-West." 

Sec.  2.  I  St — Each  Professor  shall  have  power  to  conduct 
the  course  of  instruction  in  the  studies  assigned  to  his 
department ;  to  preserve  order  and  due  attention  therein  ; 
and  to  appoint  such  exercises  of  religious  worship  in  con- 
nection therewith  as  he  may  deem  proper. 


2d — Each  Professor,  it  recmired,  shall  lay  before  the  Board 
of  Directors  a  true  and  full  statement  of  all  text  books  used 
by  him ;  and  of  his  whole  method  of  instruction  ;  and  shall 
treat  with  respectful  consideration  any  suggestions  or  advice 
which  the  Board  may  give. 

Sec.  3.  I  St — The  Professors  of  the  Seminary  shall  con- 
stitute a  Faculty  of  Instruction  and  Government ;  they  shall 
appoint  (unless  the  Board  of  Directors  otherwise  order), 
their  own  Chairman  and  Secretary,  and  on  every  question 
each  Professor  shall  have  one  vote. 

2d — The  Faculty  shall  meet  at  such  times  and  places  as 
they  shall  appoint ;  and  may  make  rules  and  by-laws,  not 
inconsistent  with  this  Constitution,  as  they  may  deem 
proper. 

3d — The  Faculty  shall  have  power,  and  it  shall  be  their 
duty  : 

(i.)  To  appoint  the  portion  of  time  and  the  particular 
hours  that  the  students  shall  attend  the  Professors  respect- 
ively. 

(2.)  To  appoint  and  direct  all  exercises  to  be  performed 
in  the  presence  of  the  whole  Seminary,  or  in  public. 

(3.)  To  appoint  the  times  at  which  all  the  students  shall 
assemble  together  for  Divine  worship,  and  to  direct  the 
conducting  of  the  same. 

(4.)  To  provide  the  students,  if  they  shall  deem  it  expe- 
dient, with  preaching  and  other  ordinances  of  worship  and 
means  of  grace  on  the  Lord's  day. 

(5.)  To  establish  rules  of  order,  decorum  and  duty,  for 
the  conduct  of  the  students. 

(6.)  To  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the  students,  and  to 
admonish,  suspend,  or  dismiss  any  student  who  shall  be 
found  propagating  error  in  doctrine,  to  be  immoral  or  dis- 
orderly in  conduct,  negligent  of  study  or  other  duties,  or 
who  shall  be,  in  their  judgment,  on  any  account  a  dangerous 
or  unprofitable  member  of  the  Institution  ;  Provided,  that 
such  student  shall  have  opportunity  to  be  reasonably  heard 


lO 


in  his  own  defence,  and  that  the  Faculty  shall  sit  with  due 
caution,  and  a  tender  regard  to  his  rights  and  his  welfare. 

Sec.  4.  I  St — The  Faculty  shall  keep  a  Register,  in  which 
shall  be  entered  the  name  of  each  student,  his  residence,  the 
church  of  which  he  is  a  member ;  the  Presbytery,  if  any,  of 
which  he  is  a  candidate ;  the  college,  if  any,  of  which  he  is 
an  Alumnus,  the  time  of  his  entering,  and  the  time  and 
mode  of  his  leaving  the  Seminary. 

2d — The  Faculty  shall  keep  a  journal  of  their  proceed- 
ings, which,  if  required,  shall  be  laid  before  the  Board  of 
Directors. 

3d — The  Faculty  shall  make  a  report  of  the  state  of  the 
Seminary  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  at  each  annual  meeting, 
and  at  other  times  when  required  by  the  Board. 

ARTICLE  V. 

OF   THE   COURSE   OF   STUDIES. 

Section  i.  The  course  of  studies  shall  include  Biblical 
Languages,  Literature,  Criticism  and  Hermeneutics,  General 
and  Special  Introduction  to  the  Scriptures,  the  exegesis  of 
so  many  of  the  principal  books  of  the  Scriptures  as  the  time 
shall  allow.  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  with  a  prelimi- 
nary review  of  Metaphysics,  Psychology  and  Ethics,  in  their 
relations  to  Theology,  the  Constitution,  Polity,  and  History 
of  the  Church,  Sacred  Rhetoric,  Pastoral  Care  and  Mission- 
ary instruction. 

Sec.  2.  The  full  course  of  studies  shall  occupy  three  ses- 
sions of  such  length  as  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  order. 

Sec.  3.  Those  students  who  shall  have  regularly  pursued 
the  prescribed  course  of  studies,  shall  be  admitted  to  an 
examination  therein,  by  the  Faculty  and  the  Board  ot  Di- 
rectors, or  a  committee  thereof;  and  if  the  examination 
shall  be  sustained,  such  students  shall  receive  a  diploma 
certifying  the  fact  from  the  Faculty,  with  the  consent  and 
approval  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 


TI 


ARTICLE  VI. 

OF    PERSONAL    RELIGION. 

Sec.  I.  It  shall  be  regarded  by  all  connected  with  the 
Seminary,  as  an  object  of  primary  importance,  to  promote  a 
high  grade  of  personal  godliness  in  the  students,  as  being 
an  essential  qualification  for  usefulness  in  the  ministry. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors,  by  all 
proper  means,  explaining  the  nature  of  true  godliness,  incul- 
cating the  obligation  to  eminent  godliness  resting  upon  those 
who  are  candidates  for  the  holy  ministry,  and  indicating  the 
means  of  promoting  it,  to  encourage  and  cherish  in  their 
pupils  its  life  and  power,  and  unreserved  consecration  of 
themselves  to  God. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  student,  each  remem- 
bering his  high  and  peculiar  obligations  to  holiness,  the 
necessity  of  this  to  his  own  personal  safety  and  acceptance 
with  God,  or  usefulness  in  the  ministr}^,  and  that  it  is  a 
matter  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  must  be  left 
chiefly  with  himself  as  a  concern  between  God  and  his  own 
soul,  dilgently,  earnestly  and  constantly  to  maintain  and 
promote,  by  all  the  divinely  appointed  means,  in  his  own 
heart  and  conduct,  the  spirit  of  true,  living  and  active 
religion  ;  to  obsen-e  the  public  and  private  ordinances  of 
Divine  worship,  and  in  all  things  to  have  a  conversation 
becoming  their  Christian  relations  and  professions. 

ARTICLE  VII.. 

OF    ADMISSION. 

Sec.  I.  The  qualifications  required  in  students  for  admis- 
sion to  the  Seminary  are,  full  communion  in  some  branch 
of  the  Christian  Church,  a  good  reputation  for  consistent 
Christian  character,  a  regular  course  of  Academic  study^  of 
which  evidence  shall  be  furnished  by  a  College  degree  or  by 
examination,  and  if  from  another  Theological  Seminary,  a 
written  certificate  of  good  standing  and  honorable  dismissal. 


12 


Sec.  2.  Every  student,  before  admission  to  the  Seminary, 
shall  subscribe  the  following  engagement,  in  a  book  kept  for 
that  purpose,  namely  :  "  I  do  solemnly  promise  that  I  will 
diligently  and  faithfully  attend  on  all  the  instructions  and 
exercises  of  this  Seminary,  observe  its  rules  of  conduct 
relating  to  students,  and  obey  the  lawful  requisitions  and 
respect  the  admonitions  of  the  Professors  and  of  the  Board 
of  Directors,  while  1  shall  continue  a  student  of  the  Insti- 
tution." 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

OF  THE  SEMINARY    GROUNDS,  BUILDINGS  AND    LIBRARY. 

The  Faculty  shall  have  the  custody  and  control  of  the 
Seminary  grounds,  buildings  and  library,  which  shall  be 
subject  to  such  regulations  as  they  may  prescribe. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

OF    THE    FUNDS    AND    FINANCIAL    OFFICERS. 

Sec.  I.  All  permanent  funds  established  for  the  support 
of  the  Seminary  shall  be  sacredly  preserved  inviolate,  and  it 
shall  not  be  lawful  for  the  Board  of  Directors,  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  or  any  person  to  withdraw,  or  to  borrow,  for  any 
purpose,  from  any  such  fund,  any  money,  securities,  or  other 
property,  without  at  the  same  time  placing  to  the  credit  of 
such  fund  a  value  clearly  and  fully  equivalent. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Trustees,  which  shall  appoint  its 
own  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  shall  have  the  cus- 
tody of  all  the  funds  and  property  of  the  Seminary,  with 
power  to  invest,  manage,  buy,  sell  and  otherwise  dispose  of 
the  same  for  the  use  of  the  Seminary,  in  any  manner  not 
inconsistent  with  this  Constitution,  and  subject  in  all  things 
to  the  instructions  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  appoint  a  Treasurer 
who  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Board, 
and  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  under  the  direction  of  the  Board, 
to  keep  all  books  of  account,  and  to  have  the  custody  of  all 


13 


snch  books  of  account,  securities  and  other  papers  and 
documents  relating  to  the  finances,  and  of  all  funds  and 
other  property,  except  the  Seminary  buildings,  the  grounds 
connected  therewith,  and  the  library  ;  and  to  present  to  the 
Board  annually,  and  oftener  when  required,  a  clear  and  full 
report  of  the  whole  state  of  the  finances,  and  of  the  transac- 
tions of  the  current  year  ;  and  he  shall  be  the  keeper  of  the 
seal,  and  when  required  shall  execute  to  the  Board  a  bond 
in  such  penal  sum  and  with  such  securities  as  they  shall 
prescribe,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  make  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  and  at  other  times 
when  required,  a  clear  and  full  report  of  the  whole  state 
of  the  finances,  and  of  the  transactions  of  the  current 
year,  or  any  part  thereof,  which  report  shall  be  transmitted 
by  the  Board  of  Directors  to  the  General  Assembly. 

ARTICLE  X. 

OFFICES  OF  THE  FORMER  DIRECTORS  DECLARED  VACANT. 

The  ofl[ices  of  the  several  Directors  heretofore  elected  by 
the  several  Synods,  who  have  had  control  of  the  said  Semi- 
nary, are  hereby  declared  vacant  from  and  after  the  date  of 
the  adoption  of  this  Constitution. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

OF    ALTERING   THE    CONSTITUTION. 

This  Constitution  shall  not  be  altered,  amended,  added 
to,  or  abrogated  in  whole  or  in  part,  except  by  a  vote  of 
two-thirds  of  all  the  Commissioners  present,  and  voting  at  a 
regular  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly. 


THE 

CONSTITUTION 

OF   THE 

OF  THE  NORTH-WEST, 

As  amended  by  the  General  Assembly  of  The  Presbyterian 

Church  in  the  United  States,  at  its  sessiofi  lield  in 

Detroit,  Mich.,  A.  D.  1872. 


ARTICLE  I. 

OF   THE    NAME    AND    OBJECTS    OF   THE    SEMINARY. 

Section  i.  The  name  of  the  Institution  shall  be  "The 
Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  of  the  North-West. " 

Sec.  2.  The  objects  of  the  Seminary  shall  be,  to  instruct 
candidates  for  the  Gospel  ministry  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
Word  of  God,  contained  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  the   only  supreme  and  infallible  rule  of 
faith  and  life,  and  of  the  doctrine,  order  and  institutes  of 
worship  taught  in  the  Scriptures,  and  summarily  exhibited 
in  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States ;   to  cherish  in  them,  by  all  the  means  of  Divine 
appointment,  the  life  of  true  godliness  ;  to  cultivate  in  them 
the  gifts  which  Christ,  the  Head  of  the  Church,  by  his  Spirit, 
confers  upon  those  whom  he  calls  to  the  ministry ;  and  to 
impart  to  them,  so  far  as  may  be,  the  various  learning  by 
which  they  may  be  furnished  for  its  work,  to  the  end  that 
there  may  be  trained  up  a  succession  of  able,  faithful  and 
godly  ministers  of  the  Divine  Word,  as  the  chief  agency 
under  God,  ordain  the  Church,  for  the  gathering  and  per- 
fecting of  the  saints  in  this  life  to  the  end  of  the  world. 


i6 
ARTICLE  II. 

OF    THE    BOARD    OF    DIRECTORS. 

Section  i  .  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  consist  of  twenty 
Ministers  and  twenty  ruling  Elders,  of  whom  one-fourth,  or 
five  Ministers  and  five  Elders,  shall  be  chosen  by  said  Board 
annually,  to  continue  in  ofiice  four  years,  and  until  their 
successors  are  elected  and  qualified  ;  and  the  Board  shall 
also  have  power  to  receive  resignations  and  declinations, 
and  to  fill  all  vacancies  which  may  occur  in  its  body ;  all 
of  these  elections,  however,  shall  be  subject  to  the  veto  of 
the  General  Assembly,  to  which  they  shall  be  reported  at  its 
next  meeting. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power  to  elect 
and  duly  induct  and  inaugurate  into  ofiice  the  Professors  of 
the  Seminary  ;  to  receive  their  resignations ;  also  to  remove 
them  from  office ;  such  elections  and  removals  to  be  subject 
to  the  veto  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  Board  shall  also 
have  power  to  suspend  temporarily  a  Professor,  preliminary 
to  and  pending  an  investigation  of  charges  against  his  con- 
duct or  doctrine. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  the  superin- 
tendence and  control  of  the  Seminary  and  its  funds  and 
property. 

Sec.  4.  Every  Director,  before  taking  his  seat  as  a  mem- 
ber, shall  subscribe  the  following  engagements,  in  a  book 
kept  for  that  purpose,  viz  : 

''1  do  solemnly  promise,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  of 
this  Board,  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  office  of  a  Di- 
rector of  the  Presbyterian  Seminaiy  of  the  North- West,  and 
will  support  its  Constitution  and  the  Constitution  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  so  long  as  I  remain  in  this  office." 

Sec.  5.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  once  in  every 
year  at  the  place  where  the  Seminary  is  located,  and  such 
annual  meeting  shall  be  on  the  Wednesday  immediately 
preceding  the  close  of  the  Seminary  year,  unless  the  Board 


17 

shall  appoint  another  time  ;  and  the  Board  may  meet  at 
other  times  and  places  on  its  own  adjournment,  and  on 
extraordinary  occasions,  by  the  call  of  the  President^  or 
other  officer  having  power  to  convene  it. 

Sec.  6.  Any  seven  Directors  being  met  at  the  time  and 
place  appointed,  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction 
of  business..  Any  two  Directors  so  met,  may  adjourn  from 
time  to  time  until  a  quotum  shall  be  present. 

Sec.  7.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  choose  annually 
from  their  own  members  a  President,  Vice-President  and  a 
Secretary^  who  shall  hold  their  offices  from  the  time  of  their 
election  till  the  next  annual  meeting,  and  until  their  succes- 
sors shall  be  duly  appointed. 

Sec.  8.  The  President,  or  in  case  of  his  absence,  the  Vice- 
President,  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Board,  and 
perform  such  other  duties  as  naturally  belong  to  his  office, 
and  as  the  Board  shall  appoint.  He  may  convene,  and 
when  requested  by  any  seven  members,  it  shall  be  his  duty 
to.  convene  the  Board  :  and  of  the  time  and  place  of  such 
special  meeting,  and  the  business  for  which  it  is  called,  he 
shall  send  a  written  notice  by  mail  or  otherwise,  not  less 
than  twenty  days  before  the  time  of  such  meeting. 

Sec.  9.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  full  and  true  record  of 
the  transactions  of  the  Board,  and  shall  keep  all  books  of 
records  and  papers,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  the 
Board  shall  direct. 

Sec.  10.  In  the  absence  of  any  officer,  the  Board  may 
appoint  some  other  person  to  fill  his  place  pro  tempore. 

Sec.  II.  The  Board  may  make  Rules  of  Order  and  By- 
Laws,  not  inconsistent  with  this  Constitution. 

Sec.  12,  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power,  and  it 
shall  be  their  duty, 

I.  To  superintend,  either  by  itself  or  by  a  Committee, 
the  annual  examination  of  the  students,  and  to  appoint  such 
other  services  in  connection  therewith,  as  it  may  think 
proper. 


i8 


2.  To  provide  all  funds,  buildings,  libraries,  and  other 
means  necessary  and  proper  for  the  use  of  the  Seminary ;  to 
appoint  a  Board  of  Trustees  and  till  all  vacancies  therein, 
and  to  instruct  and  direct  the  said  Board  in  respect  to  the 
investment,  custody,  management  and  disposal  of  all  funds 
and  property  of  the  Institution  ;  to  fix  the  salaries  of  all 
Professors  and  other  officers ;  and,  by  itself,  or  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  to  make  all  appropriations  of  moneys. 

3.  To  make  annually  to  the  General  Assembly,  in  writing, 

a  full  and  faithful  report  of  the  whole  state  of  the  Seminary 

and   of  the  transactions  of  the   Board,  and  also  to  submit 

their   records   when   required,    for   the   inspection   ot    the 

Assembly. 

ARTICLE  III. 

OF    THE    PROFESSORS. 

Sec.  I.  I  St — No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  any  Profes- 
sorship in  the  Seminary,  except  a  member  in  full  communion 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  no  person  shall  be  eligible 
to  the  office  of  Professor  of  Theology,  except  a  regularly 
ordained  minister  in  that  Church. 

2d — Every  Professor,  before  he  enters  upon  the  execution 
of  his  office,  shall  subscribe  the  following  engagement,  in  a 
book  kept  for  that  purpose,  namely  : 

"  In  the  presence  of  God  and  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  this  Seminary,  I  do  solemnly  profess  my  belief  that  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  contains  a  summary  and  true  exhibition  of  the  sys- 
tem of  doctrine,  order  and  worship  taught  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  the  only  supreme  and  infallible  rule  of  faith,  and 
my  approbation  of  the  Presbyterian  form  of  Church  Gov- 
ernment, as  being  agreeable  to  the  Scriptures ;  and  do 
promise  that  I  will  not  teach,  directly  or  indirectly,  any- 
thing contrary  to,  or  inconsistent  with,  the  said  Confession 
and  Catechisms,  or  the  fundamental  principles  of  Presbyte- 
rian Church  Government,  and  that  I  will  faithfully  execute 
the  office  of  a  Professor  in  the  Presbyterian  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  North-West." 


19 

Sec.  2.  I  St. — Each  Professor  shall  have  power  to  conduct 
the  course  of  instruction  in  the  studies  assigned  to  his 
department ;  to  preserve  order  and  due  attention  therein  ; 
and  to  appoint  such  exercises  of  religious  worship  in  con- 
nection therewith  as  he  may  deem  proper. 

2d — Each  Professor,  if  required,  shall  lay  before  the  Board 
of  Directors  a  true  and  full  statement  of  all  text  books  used 
by  him,  and  of  his  whole  method  of  instruction,  and  shall 
treat  with  respectful  consideration  any  suggestions  or  advice 
which  the  Board  may  give. 

Sec.  3.  ist — The  Professors  of  the  Seminary  shall  con- 
stitute a  Faculty  of  Instruction  and  Government ;  they  shall 
appoint  (unless  the  Board  of  Directors  otherwise  order,) 
their  own  Chairman  and  Secretary,  and  on  every  question 
each  Professor  shall  have  one  vote. 

2d — The  Faculty  shall  meet  at  such  times  and  places  as 
they  shall  appoint,  and  may  make  rules  and  by-laws,  not 
inconsistent  ^^ath  this  Constitution,  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

3d — The  Faculty  shall  have  power  and  it  shall  be  their 
duty  : 

(i.)  To  appoint  the  portion  of  time  and  the  particular 
hours  that  the  students  shall  attend  the  Professors  respect- 
ively. 

(2.)  To  appoint  and  direct  all  exercises  to  be  performed 
in  the  presence  of  the  whole  Seminary,  or  in  public. 

(3.)  To  appoint  the  times  at  which  all  the  students  shall 
assemble  together  for  Divine  worship,  and  to  direct  the 
conducting  of  the  same. 

(4.)  To  provide  the  students,  if  they  shall  deem  it  expe- 
dient, with  preaching  and  other  ordinances  of  worship  and 
means  of  grace  on  the  Lord's  day. 

(5.)  To  establish  rules  of  order,  decorum  and  duty,  for 
the  conduct  of  the  students. 

(6.)  To  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the  students,  and  to 
admonish,  suspend,  or  dismiss  any  student  who  shall  be 
found  propagating  error  in  doctrine,  to  be  immoral  or  dis- 


.20 


orderly  in  conduct,  negligent  of  study  or  other  duties,  or 
who  shall  be,  in  their  judgment,  on  any  account  a  dangerous 
or  unprofitable  member  of  the  Institution  ;  Provided^  that 
such  student  shall  have  opportunity  to  be  reasonably  heard 
in  his  own  defence,  and  that  the  B'aculty  shall  sit  with  due 
caution  and  a  tender  regard  to  his  rights  and  his  welfare. 

Sec.  4.  I  St — The  Faculty  shall  keep  a  Register,  in  which 
shall  be  entered  the  name  of  each  student,  his  residence,  the 
church  of  which  he  is  a  member ;  the  Presbytery,  if  any,  of 
which  he  is  a  candidate ;  the  college,  if  any,  of  which  he  is 
an  Alumnus,  the  time  of  his  entering,  and  the  time  and  mode 
of  his  leaving  the  Seminary. 

2d — The  Faculty  shall  keep  a  journal  of  their  proceed- 
ings, which,  if  required,  shall  be  laid  before  the  Board  of 
Directors. 

3d — The  Faculty  shall  make  a  report  of  the  state  of  the 
Seminary  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  at  each  annual  meeting, 
and  at  other  times  when  required  by  the  Board. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

OF    THE    COURSE    OF    STUDIES. 

Sec.  I.  The  course  of  studies  shall  include  Biblical  Lan- 
guages, Literature,  Criticism  and  Hermeneutics,  General 
and  Special  Introduction  to  the  Scriptures,  the  exegesis  of 
so  many  of  the  principal  books  of  the  Scriptures  as  the  time 
shall  allow,  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  with  a  prelimi- 
nary review  of  Metaphysics,  Psychology  and  Ethics,  in  their 
relations  to  Theology,  the  Constitution,  Polity  and  History 
of  the  Church,  Sacred  Rhetoric,  Pastoral  Care  and  Mission- 
ary Instruction. 

Src.  2.  The  full  course  of  studies  shall  occupy  three 
sessions,  of  such  length  as  the  Board  of  Directors  shall 
order. 

Sec.  3.  Those  students  who  shall  have  regularly  pursued  the 
prescribed  course  of  studies,  shall  be  admitted  to  an  exami- 
nation therein  by  the  Faculty  and  the  Board  of  Directors, 


2  I 


or  a  committee  thereof,  and  if  the  examination  shall  be  sus- 
tained, such  students  shall  receive  a  diploma  certifying  the 
fact  from  the  Faculty,  with  the  consent  and  approval  of  the 
Board  of  Directors. 

ARTICLE  V. 

OF    PERSONAL    RELIGION. 

Sec.  I.  It  shall  be  regarded  by  all  connected  with  the 
Seminary,  as  an  object  of  primary  importance,  to  promote  a 
high  grade  of  personal  godliness  in  the  students,  as  being  an 
essential  qualification  for  usefulness  in  the  ministry. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors,  by  all 
proper  means,  explaining  the  nature  of  true  godliness,  incul- 
cating the  obligation  to  eminent  godliness  resting  upon  those 
who  are  candidates  for  the  holy  ministry,  and  indicating  the 
means  of  promoting  it,  to  encouarge  and  cherish  in  their 
pupils  its  life  and  power,  and  unreserved  consecration  of 
themselves  to  God. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  student,  each  rem  em. - 
bering  his  high  and  peculiar  obligations  to  holiness,  the 
necessity  of  this  to  his  own  personal  safety,  and  acceptance 
with  God,  or  usefulness  in  the  ministry,  and  that  it  is  a 
matter  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  must  be  left 
chiefly  with  himself  as  a  concern  between  God  and  his  own 
soul,  diligently,  earnestly,  and  constantly  to  maintain  and 
promote,  by  all  the  divinely  appointed  means,  in  his  own 
heart  and  conduct,  the  spirit  of  true,  living,  and  active  reli- 
gion ;  to  observe  the  public  and  private  ordinances  of  Divine 
worship,  and  in  all  things  to  have  a  conversation  becoming 
theii  Christian  relations  and  professions. 

ARTICLE   VI. 

OF    ADMIS.SION. 

Sec.  t.  The  qualifications  required  in  students  for  admis- 
sion to  the  Seminary  are,  full  communion  in  some  branch  of 
the  Christian  Church,  a  good  reputation  for  consitent  Chris- \ 


22 

tian  character,  a  regular  course  of  Academic  study,  of  which 
evidence  shall  be  furnished  by  a  College  degree  or  by  exam- 
ination, and  if  from  another  Theological  Seminary,  a  written 
certificate  of  good  standing  and  honorable  dismission. 

Sec.  2.  Every  student  before  admission  to  the  Seminary 
shall  subscribe  the  following  engagagement,  in  a  book  kept 
for  that  purpose,  namely  :  "  I  do  solomnly  promise  that  I 
will  diligently  and  faithfully  attend  on  all  the  instructions 
and  exercises  of  this  Seminary,  observe  its  rules  of  conduct 
relating  to  students,  and  obey  the  lawful  requisitions  and 
respect  the  admonitions  of  the  Professors  and  of  the  Board 
of  Directors,  while  I  shall  continue  a  student  of  the  Insti- 
tution." 

ARTICLE  VII. 

OF    THE    SEMINARY    GROUNDS,    BUILDINGS    AND    LIBRARY. 

The  Facualty  shall  have  the  custody  and  control  of  the 
Seminary  grounds,  buildings  and  library,  which  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  such  regulations  as  they  may  prescribe. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

OF    THE    FUNDS    AND    FINANCIAL    OFFICERS. 

Sec.  I.  All  permanent  funds  established  for  the  support 
of  the  Seminary  shall  be  sacredly  preserved  inviolate,  and. 
it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  the  Board  of  Directors,  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  or  any  person  to  withdraw,  or  to  borrow, 
for  any  purpose,  from  any  such  fund,  any  money,  securities, 
or  other  property  without  at  the  same  time  placing  to  the 
credit  of  such  fund  a  value  clearly  and  fully  equivalent. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Trustees,  which  shall  appoint  its 
own  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  shall  have  the  cus- 
tody of  all  the  fiinds  and  property  of  the  Seminary,  with 
power  to  invest,  manage,  buy,  sell  and  otherwise  dispose  of 
the  same  for  the  use  of  the  Seminary,  in  any  manner  not  in- 
consistent with  this  Constitution,  and  subject  in  all  things  to 
the  instructions  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 


23 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  appoint  a  Treasurer, 
who  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Board, 
and  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  under  the  direction  of  the  Board, 
to  keep  all^books  of  account,  and  to  have  the  custody  of  all 
such  books  of  account,  securities  and  other  papers  and 
documents  relating  to  the  finances,  and  of  all  funds  and 
other  property,  except  the  Seminary  buildings,  the  grounds 
connected  therewith,  and  the  library ;  and  to  present  to  the 
Board  annually,  and  oftener  when  required,  a  clear  and  full 
report  of  the  whole  state  of  finances,  and  of  the  transac- 
tions of  the  current  year  ;  and  he  shall  be  the  keeper  of  the 
seal,  and  when  required  shall  execute  to  the  Board  a  bond 
in  such  penal  sum,  and  with  such  securities  as  they  shall 
prescribe,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  make  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  and  at  other  times  when 
required,  a  clear  and  full  report  of  the  whole  state  of  the 
finances,  and  of  the  transactions  of  the  current  year,  or 
any  part  thereof,  which  report  shall  be  transmitted  by  the 
Board  of  Directors   to  the  General  Assembly. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

CONSTITUTION    HOW    AMENDED. 

This  Constitution  may  be  altered,  or  amended,  by  a  vote 
of  three-fourths  of  the  Directors  present,  and  voting  at  a 
regular  annual  meeting  of  the  Board ;  such  alteration,  or 
amendment  to  take  effect,  and  be  in  force  only  when  the 
same  shall  be  approved  by  the  General  Assembly. 

DIRECTORS    HERETOFORE   APPOINTED. 

Resolved,  That,  Directors  heretofore  appointed,  whose 
terms  of  service  have  not  expired,  shall  serve  until  the  end 
thereof,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified 
and  Directors  appointed  by  the  present  General  Assembly 
shall  serve,  as  if  elected  and  appointed  by  the  Board  of 
Directors. 


■/■ 


To  incorporate  ''The  Trustees   of  the  Presbyterian 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  North- West." 

Whereas,  It  is  represented  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  that  the  Synods  of  Cincinnati,  Wisconsin, 
Iowa,  Illinois,  Northern  Indiana,  Chicago  and  Indiana,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
did  respectively  on  the  sixth,  the  tenth,  the  eleventh,  the 
thirteenth  and  the  eighteenth  days  of  October,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  Eghteen  Hundred  and  Fifty-six,  adopt  an 
instrument  entitled  "  The  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian 
Theolgical  Seminary  of  the  North-West,"  and  have  now  a 
Seminary  for  the  professional  education  of  Candidates  for 
the  Christian  Ministry,  established  and  in  operation  under 
said  Constitution ;  and  whereas  it  is  represented,  that  in 
order  to  the  more  convenient  custody^  management  and 
disposal  of  the  funds  and  other  property  now  possessed,  and 
which  shall  hereafter  be  possessed  for  the  use  of  the  said 
Seminar}-,  by  the  Synods  aforesaid,  and  other  Synods  which 
shall  become  united  with  them  in  the  direction  and  control 
of  the  said  Seminary,  in  conformity  with  the  said  Constitu- 
tion, it  is  necessary  that  there  be  constituted  a  Board  of 
Trustees,  which  shall  be  a  corporation,  or  body  corporate 
and  politic  in  law  and  in  fact ;  therefore, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois^  represented 
in  the  General  Assembly : 

Section  i.  That  John  Wilson,  Samuel  Howe,  R.  J. 
Hamilton,  R.  W.  Henry,  A.  B.  Newkirk,  R.  B.  Mason, 
William  Baily,  Warren  Norton  and  A.  J.  Buel,  who  at 
present  constitute  the  Board  of  Trustees  aforesaid  in  said 


26 

office,  and  their  successors,  duly  elected  and  appointed  in 
the  manner  hereinafter  provided,  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
■constituted  and  declared  a  corporation  or  body  corporate 
and  poHtic  in  law  and  fact,  and  to  have  continuance  and 
perpetual  succession,  by  the  name  and  style  of  "  The  Trus- 
tees of  the  Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  of  the.  North- 
Westr 

Sec.  2.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  be  composed  of 
nine  Trustees,  of  whom  not  less  thanyfz/<?  shall  be  citizens  of 
the  State  of  Illinois ;  and  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Seminary  established  under  the  said  Constitution,  shall  have 
power  at  any  meeting  held  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  change 
one-third  of  the  whole  number  of  Trustees  in  such  manner 
as  to  the  said  Board  of  Directors  shall  seem  proper,  and  to 
fill  all  vacancies  which  may  then  exist  in  the  Board  of 
Trustees ;  and  of  every  Trustee  so  appointed,  the  proper 
credentials  shall  be  a  written  certificate  of  his  appointment 
by  the  Board  of  Directors,  authenticated  by  the  name  of  its 
President  and  Secretary. 

Sec.  3.  That  before  any  Trustee  enters  on  the  execution 
of  his  office,  he  shall  subscribe,  in  a  book  kept  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  following  engagement :  "  In  the  presence  of  God, 
1  do  solemnly  promise  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  oflfice 
of  a  Trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  of 
the  North-West,  under  the  Act  to  incorporate  the  Trustees 
thereof,  and  will  support  the  Constitution  of  the  Seminary 
so  long  as  I  continue  in  this  oflfice." 

Sec.  4.  That  any  five  members  of  the  said  Corporation, 
being  met  for  the  first  time  in  conformity  to  this  Act,  or 
afterwards,  in  the  manner  hereinafter  provided,  shall  be  a 
quorum  sufficient  to  transact  its  business. 

Sec.  5.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  have  power  to 
make  all  Rules  and  By-Laws  which  may  be  necessary  and 
proper  for  the  transaction  of  its  business  ;  it  shall  have 
power  according  to  its  own  rules  and  as  shall  seem  to  it 
proper,  to  appoint  a  President,  a  Vice-President  and  a  Sec- 


27 

retary  out  of  its  own  members,  and  other  officers  or  agents 
at  its  discretion,  the  time  and  tenure  of  their  offices  respect- 
ively, the  duties  belonging  to  each,  and  the  pecuniary  com- 
pensation which  they  shall  receive. 

Sec.  6.  That  the  first  meeting  of  the  said  (Corporation 
shall  be  held  in  the*  City  of  Chicago,  at  such  time  as  any  Jive 
of  the  Trustees  named  in  this  Act  being  assembled  together 
shall  appoint ;  afterwards  it  shall  meet  at  such  times  and 
places  as  it  shall  appoint,  and  the  President,,  or  in  case  of 
his  absence,  or  inability,  or  refusal,  or  neglect  to  act,  the 
Vice-President,  or  if  he  fail,  the  Secretary  shall  have  power, 
and  when  requested  by  any  three  Trustees,  it  shall  be  his 
duty  to  convene  the  Corporation  ;  of  the  time  and  place  of 
which  special  meeting,  the  officer  calling  it  shall  give  to  each 
Trustee  due  notice,  either  by  himself  orally,  or  by  some 
other  person,  or  by  a  written  note  left  at  the  dwelling  or  the 
usual  place  of  business  of  such  Trustee,  or  sent  to  him  by 
mail  at  least  seveti  days  before  the  time  of  such  meeting. 

Sec.  7.  That  all  questions  before  the  said  corporation 
shall  be  decided  by  a  majority  of  the  members  present  at 
the  time,  and  on  ever}^  such  question,  each  member  shall 
have  one  vote,  except  the  President,  or  other  person  when 
acting  as  President,  who  shall  have  only  the  casting  vote,  in 
case  the  votes  of  the  other  members  shall  be  equally  divided. 

Sec.  8.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  have  power  to 
make,  have  and  use  one  common  seal,  with  such  device  and 
inscription  as  it  shall  appoint,  and  the  same  to  break,  change 
or  renew  at  its  discretion. 

Sec.  9.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  have  power  to 
appoint  a  Treasurer,  who  shall  hold  his  office  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  Corporation,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Corporation,  to  keep  all  books  of 
account,  to  have  the  custody  of  all  such  books  of  account, 
securities  of  every  kind,  and  other  papers  and  documents 
relating  to  the  finances,  and  of  all  funds,  moneys^  and  other 
property,    real   and    personal,    (except   the   buildings   and 


28 

grounds  connected  therewith^  occupied  by  the  Seminary, 
the  Hbrary  and  furniture  of  which,  subject  to  the  disposal  of 
the  Corporation^  the  Faculty  shall  have  the  custody  and 
control,)  and  to  present  to  the  Corporation  annually,  and 
oftener  when  required,  a  clear,  full  and  true  report  of  the 
transactions  of  the  current  year,  or  any  part  thereof,  and  of 
the  whole  state  of  the  finances  ;  he  shall  be  the  keeper  of 
the  Seal,  and  shall  have  the  sole  right  to  use  it  for  the 
authentication  of  such  instruments  as  the  Corporation  shall 
direct  him  thus  to  authenticate,  and  shall  execute  to  the 
Corporation,  whenever  required,  a  bond  or  bonds,  in  such 
penal  sum  or  sums,  and  with  such  securities  as  the  Corpo- 
ration shall  prescribe,  for  the  faithful  execution  of  his  office  ; 
and  of  all  such  bonds  and  securities  the  President  of  the 
Corporation  shall  have  the  custody. 

Sec,  io.  That  the  said  Corporation,  by  the  name  and 
style  aforesaid,  shall  be  capable  and  able  in  law  to  sue  and 
be  sued,  plead  and  be  impleaded,  in  any  court  or  courts  of 
law  or  of  equity,  before  any  Judge  or  Judges,  in  all  and  all 
manner  of  suits,  complaints,  pleas,  causes,  matters,  and 
demands  of  whatsoever  kind  and  form  they  may  be,  and  all 
things  therein,  or  anywise  relating  thereto,  to  do  in  as  full 
and  effectual  a  manner  as  any  person  or  persons,  or  any 
body  poUtic  and  corporate  within  the  State,  may  or  can  do. 

Sec.  II.  That  the  said  Corporation  is  hereby  expressly 
prohibited  from  exercising,  in  virtue  of  any  power  derived 
from  this  Act,  any  authority  or  control  in  any  way  whatever 
in  respect  to  the  doctrine  or  doctrines  taught,  the  course  of 
instruction  and  study,  or  the  government  and  discipline  in 
the  said  Seminary,  or  to  the  appointment  of  Professors  or 
other  instructors  in  the  said  Seminary,  the  tenure  of  their 
ofllices  or  the  execution  thereof,  or  to  the  pecuniary  com- 
pensation which  any  such  Professor  shall  receive,  or  the 
time  or  manner  of  its  payment ;  all  of  which  matters  and 
things  shall  remain  under  the  exclusive  power  and  direction 
of  the  Synods  aforesaid,  and  such  other  Synods  as  shall 


29 

become  united  with  them  therein,  in  conformity  to  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Constitution  of  said  Seminary,  as  the  same 
now  exists,  or  as  it  may  hereafter  exist  by  amendments 
provided  for  by  the  said  Constitution,  and  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  said  Seminary,  and  so  far  as  it  respects  the 
execution  of  their  own  offices^  of  the  Professors  of  said 
seminary ;  the  said  Directors  being  in  all  things  appertaining 
to  their  own  offices  subject  to  the  control  of  said  Synods, 
and  the  Professors  amenable  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  in 
conformity  to  the  said  Constitution. 

Sec.  12.  That  the  said  Corporation,  by  the  name  and 
style  aforesaid,  shall  be  capable  in  law,  and  shall  have  full 
power  to  take,  receive  and  hold  all  and  all  manner  x)f  lands, 
tenements,  moneys,  stocks,  rents,  annuities,  reversions,  fran- 
chises, legacies,  hereditaments  and  other  property,  real  or 
personal  whatsoever,  which  have  at  any  time  or  times  here- 
tofore been  granted,  sold,  bargained,  released,  devised,  or 
other\vise  conveyed  to  any  other  body  politic  and  corporate, 
or  any  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  for  the  use  ot  the 
said  Seminary,  or  in  trust  for  the  same ;  and  the  said  lands, 
tenements,  moneys,  stocks,  rents,  annuities,  reversions, 
franchises,  legacies,  hereditaments,  and  other  property,  real 
and  personal,  are  hereby  vested  and  established  in  the  said 
Corporation  fore\er,  according  to  the  use  and  interest  for 
which  such  gifts,  grants,  devises,  releases,  or  other  convey- 
ance respectively,  Avere  originally  made.  And  the  said 
Corporation  is  hereby  declared  to  be  seized  and  possessed 
of  such  estate  or  estates  therein,  as  in  and  by  these  respective 
grants,  sales,  bargains,  enfeoffments,  gifts,  devises  and  other 
conveyances  thereof,  are  declared  limited  and  expressed. 
That  further,  the  said  Corporation  and  their  successors, 
shall  be  capable  in  law,  and  have  full  power  to  take,  receive, 
hold  and  enjoy,  in  fee  simple,  or  of  lease,  estate  or  estates, 
in  trust  for  the  use  of  the  said  Seminary,  all  lands,  tenements, 
moneys,  stocks,  rents,  annuities,  franchises,  legacies,  heredi- 
taments and  other  property,  real  and  personal  whatsoever, 


30 

t 

by  sale,  bargain^  grant,  enfeoffment,  release,  gift,  devise,  or 
other  conveyance  of  any  body  politic  and  corporate,  or  any 
person  or  persons  capable  to  make  the  same  ;  and  that  no 
misnomer  of  the  said  Corporation  and  their  successors  shall 
annul,  defeat,  or  in  anyw^ise  impair  any  gift,  devise  or  grant 
of  any  kind  to  the  said  Corporation,  or  to  any  other  person 
or  persons,  or  any  other  body  poHtic  and  corporate  for  the 
said  Corporation.  Provided,  that  the  interests  of  the  party 
or  parties  shall  sufficiently  appear  upon  the  face  of  the  gift, 
grant,  will  or  other  writing,  whereby  it  was  intended  that 
any  estate  or  interest  should  pass  to  said  Corporation,  or  to 
any  other  body  politic  and  corporate  for  the  use  of  the  said 
Seminary. 

Sec.  13.  That  the  said  Corporation  and  its  seccessors 
shall  have  power  to  invest  and  loan  all  moneys  and  funds, 
and  by  bargain,  sale,  lease,  or  otherwise,  to  manage,  sell 
and  dispose  of  any  and  all  lands,  tenements,  stocks,  rents, 
annuities,  franchises,  legacies,  bequests  and  estates  of  any 
kind  of  which  they  shall  be  legally  seized  and  possessed,  for 
the  sole  use  of  the  said  Seminary,  in  the  promotion  of  the 
objects  for  which  it  is  established^  and  in  conformity  to  the 
provisions  of  this  Act.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  have 
power  and  it  shall  be  its  duty,  out  of  any  estate,  funds  and 
property  in  its  possession,  custody,  management  and  con- 
trol, and  not  otherwise  appropriated  and  limited,  to  provide 
by  purchase  or  otherwise,  grounds,  buildings,  libraries,  fur- 
niture and  other  accommodations  for  the  use  of  the  said 
Seminary,  and  in  like  manner  to  provide  an  income  for 
payment  of  all  such  salaries  and  compensations  of  professors, 
instructors  and  other  officers  and  agents  of  the  said  Semi- 
nary, as  shall  be  allowed  and  appointed  by  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  said  Seminary,  and  for  the  payment  of  the 
salaries  and  compensations  allowed  and  appointed  by  the 
said  Corporation  to  its  own  officers,  agents,  or  other  persons, 
and  for  defraying  all  the  necessary  and  proper  expenses  for 
the  transaction  of  its  business. 


31 

Sec.  14.  That  in  all  cases  in  which  special  instructions 
shall  be  given  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  said  Semi- 
nary in  writing,  authenticated  by  the  name  of  its  President 
and  Secretary,  in  respect  to  the  custody,  investment,  man- 
agement or  disposal  of  any  lands,  tenements,  stocks,  moneys, 
gifts,  legacies,  hereditaments,  property,  real  and  personal 
estate  or  estates  of  any  kind  of  which  the  said  Corporation 
shall  be  possessed,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Corpora- 
tion to  act  in  conformity  to  said  instructions.  Provided, 
that  the  said  instructions  shall  not  be  repugnant  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  Statas,  to  the  Constitution  and 
Laws  of  this  State,  or  to  this  Act. 

Sec.  15.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  keep  a  journal 
of  its  proceedings,  and  shall  keep  regular  and  fair  entries  of 
all  its  pecuniary  transactions,  and  a  true  and  exact  account 
of  its  receipts  and  disbursements  in  a  book  or  books  kept 
for  that  purpose ;  make  to  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
said  Seminary  a  clear,  full  and  true  report  of  the  transactions 
of  the  current  year,  or  any  part  thereof,  and  of  the  whole 
state  of  the  finances,  and  shall,  whenever  required,  submit 
its  journal  and  all  books  of  account,  securities  and  other 
papers  and  documents  relating  to  the  business  of  the  Cor- 
poration, to  the  examination  of  the  Board  of  the  said 
Seminary,  or  of  any  person  or  persons  appointed  by  the 
said  Board  to  make  such  examination. 
.  Sec.  16.  That  the  said  Corporation  shall  have  power  to 
take,  receive,  hold^  possess  and  enjoy  for  the  use  of  the  said 
Seminary,  lands,  messuages,  tenements,  stocks,  rents,  annui- 
ties, grants,  gifts,  hereditaments,  and  other  estate,  real  and 
personal. 

Sec.  17.  This  Act  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  a 
public  Act,  and  shall  be  of  force  from  and  after  the  date  of 
its  passage.  SAMUEL  HOLMES, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repi. 
JOHN  WOOD, 
Speaker  of  the  Senate. 
Approved,  February   16,  1857.  WM.  H.  BISSELL. 


32 

United  States  of  America,  ) 
State  of  Illinois.  ) 

I,  O.  M.  Hatch,  Secretary  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  do  hereby  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  true 
and  correct  copy  of  an  enrolled  law  now  on  file  in  my  oifice. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
[l.  s.]         hand  and  caused  .the  great  seal  of  the  State 
to  be  affixed.     Done  at   Springfield,  this 
2ist  day  of  March,  1857. 

O.  M.  Hatch,  Secretary. 


\ 


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